New Zealand’s largest food rescue organisation, KiwiHarvest, has brought back its popular event, The Goodness Gala, which will be held on Saturday, 26th of August 2023. The gala is in aid of fund-raising for the charity’s operations to feed an estimated 170,000 New Zealanders who experience food insecurity.
To mark the occasion, a lineup of familiar local chefs, including Peter Gordon, Michael Meredith, Brent Martin, Kylee Newton and Alifie Ingham, have designed a four-course menu containing high-quality ingredients for the black tie event.
Held at the five-star Park Hyatt Auckland, the chefs will demonstrate how rescued food can be transformed into a culinary masterpiece. The event is part of KiwiHarvest's greater plan to fight against food waste.
Chef Peter Gordon said he is excited to add the Goodness Gala to his illustrious portfolio of work.
“For a collective of chefs working to highlight and address the problem of food waste, designing this menu using rescued food was the perfect way to walk the talk – it’s what we are all about. Importantly, this will help KiwiHarvest to raise awareness of how urgent our food waste and food insecurity crises currently are, and hopefully empower everyone in the room to stand up and make a difference,” said Gordon.
Rugby royalty will be in attendance on the night, including the chair of KiwiHarvest, former Rugby World Cup winning captain, Rhodes scholar, and business-leader, David Kirk, who will lead the conversation with Nick Farr-Jones, who was captain of the Wallabies to win the 1991 Rugby World Cup, and 2022 World Cup winning Black Ferns captain, Sarah Hirini. The event will also be held on the eve of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Kirk said that this cause is extremely close to his heart, and he is thrilled to be part of such a meaningful event with a real, tangible goal of nourishing those who are doing it tough.
“I’m excited by the prospect of having so many unique voices together in the room, and am delighted to have Nick and Sarah by my side to explore their own stories and what led them to where they are today,” said Kirk.
The Goodness Gala is KiwiHarvest's opportunity to generate support throughout the rising cost of living and heavily reduced government funding, which will enable the charity to continue to serve its 225 recipient agencies nationwide.
KiwiHarvest’s CEO, Angela Calver, said that the food rescue sector has found itself with less and less means to help the communities who rely on it, yet there has been a surge in demand.
“Our sister organisation, the New Zealand Food Network surveyed its recipients (KiwiHarvest included) and found that since Covid hit, the surge in demand for food support has grown by 165 percent with the cost of living crisis cited as the top reason,” said Calver.
Calver added that the whole team is excited to bring the gala to life, not only to continue the organisation's work, but to give guests an evening they’ll never forget.
Proceeds from each ticket sold will enable KiwiHarvest to deliver 1,000 meals. Live music and a live auction will also feature as part of the evening’s entertainment.
